A government shutdown means hardworking federal employees and military will not be paid. Some will be forced to report for work without pay. Where you're so wrong (in so many ways), Congressional members will be paid. Anyone who cheers for a shutdown of our government is Anti-American. In fact both al-quaeda and the Tea Party are cheering.

I will pray for you. Your dishonesty saddens me. Your use of twisted logic in order protect the wealthy's goal of becoming weathier is a complete misuse of the gifts that God has given you.

How dare you make snide remarks about people who "make a living on the tax payer's dime." Be a man and stop hitting below the belt. How sad it is that you're ready to support the corporate/outsourced gravy train that is coming to town. Oh yes, Kasich is lining up big bucks for his buddies.

Your status as a man and the salvation of your soul are both in question. I again challenge you to get in the ring - boxing, MMA, taekwondo - take your pick. Man up, O'Brien. Your -blank- is weak.

In 2001, Kasich took a job as managing director of the Columbus investment banking division of Lehman Brothers.[47] He remained at the company until its collapse in September 2008. During 2008, Lehman Brothers paid Kasich $587,175 in salary, bonuses, and other benefits.[48] Over $400,000 of that bonus is credited to Kasich using his political connections to facilitate investment of $480 million from the state pension fund with Lehman Brothers. That money was lost to the state. --- Enough said about the fool you elected.

@The Glorious 1950's "The difference is monopoly." You're right. Let's not only have choice of government workers, but how about more choices for government! Let's privitize the whole the damn thing. Let's get bids from Asia and Europe. There's bound to be a great staffing office out there that can supply executive office holders, legislators and judges.

Speaking in generalizations sounds compelling, but without facts to support such an argument it is hardly convincing. So could you give some specifics of abuse? I am guessing you're non-plussed about unions using their clout to influence politics? Well that's free speech and other organized groups do it, as well, like corporations. That is American as apple pie. Advocate for "screw ups" ? I can understand the outrage. However, by law, unions are required to represent all members. Believe me you, when I was a steward, I had to represent some losers; however, it is about keeping the process fair and just -- similar to giving criminal suspects fair and due process. Going on, I have to really disagree with the commentary that most union workers are mediocre and could careless. This is an unfair and incorrect perception that is not rooted in fact. If it is a fact, please prove it with data not snide, ancedotal remarks.

I concur that unions will have to step forward and pay more for retirement and health care. This is a must as the baby boom population ages and the entitlement system is taxed heavily. New models of retirement and other benefits should be explored. In fact, when labor and administration collaborate, great solutions can be found. Putting a gun to someone's head only creates conflict. In cash-starved states, like OH and WI, fractiousness is the last thing that is needed.

Since when is having a good health plan - a cadillac plan? While I agree that WI workers need to kick more to offset rising costs, I think your labeling is wrong and out of line. Many public employees accepted a job with lower wages but good benefits. The private has stripped it's workers of benefits and now it makes the public sector look spoiled. As a public employee, I can tell you, we are not spoiled. We work very hard everyday. The point about pensions is valid to some extent. The feds have tried to address this through the Thrift Savings Program, which is like a 401K. However, employees who paid into the old retirement system are grandfathered into it. Therefore, it is not possible to simply switch all WI workers into a 401K model, because these workers have dutifully paid into it with each paycheck. You are also wrong about CEOs and Wallstreet. Yes, they are a small number in terms of people, but they reign in a huge proportion of wealth. The gap continues to widen. It is simply unreal. A fact you should be concerned about is how public administrators are now demanding and receiving bigger and bigger salaries and perks. The chasm between have and have not continues to widen. The rich are laughing all the way to back, watching working people fight each other.

Wisconsin and othe state governments are collapsing not simply from spending, but from years of tax cuts and abatements that have seriously shrunk state coffers. The public unions in Wisconsin have responded responsibly to these budget woes. While concessions are painful, they are needed desperately. That being said, however, new taxes are needed as well to close the budget gap. The budget problem has to be addressed from both sides. Good government takes money. The Tea Party platform of slashing government left and right is mindless and lacks insight about what makes a good society.

Unions serve several important functions. They set the bar for middle class wages. The also set the bar for worker rights and benefits. The influence on the private sector is clear. In fields where union workers exist, wages and benefits for everyone in that area are better. People who argue unions have passed their time couldn't be more wrong. For example, even today, many states do not have laws on the books requiring a lunch break. Laws for bringing forth a grievance for arbitrary termination don't exist; instead people are forced to go through courts - and only in very limited sets of circumstances. While I am a proponent of capitalism; I support it with certain caveats. The fair and reasonable treatement of workers and consumers is part of a just and good society. Unions are part of that equation. Big shots have lawyers drafting contracts to protect their clients. Regular people deserve the same.

Taking a pay cut is not unreasonable if the situation calls for it. The pay cut should come from across the board, including top dogs. That being, said, however, we have to ask why we are broke. The GOP line is "spending" but that's not really the whole story. The fact is that the wealthy and corporations play games to avoid paying taxes and they have outsource so many jobs -- out of sheer greed. This is the main reason why public employees are so-called "haves" and private sector workers are "have nots". America has to do better. Creating incentives for keeping jobs at home. Stop these games of tax abatments. Yes, unions - which I am a member of - must be willing to rexamine some practices. The solution is to be found when everyone is willing to chip in.

Taking a pay cut is not unreasonable if the situation calls for it. The pay cut should come from across the board, including top dogs. That being, said, however, we have to ask why we are broke. The GOP line is "spending" but that's not really the whole story. The fact is that the wealthy and corporations play games to avoid paying taxes and they have outsource so many jobs -- out of sheer greed. This is the main reason why public employees are so-called "haves" and private sector workers are "have nots". America has to do better. Creating incentives for keeping jobs at home. Stop these games of tax abatments. Yes, unions - which I am a member of - must be willing to rexamine some practices. The solution is to be found when everyone is willing to chip in.

Stop lying, Kevin. This isn't fiscal, it is political. The fact is most union workers vote for democrats, because that party looks out for the interest of working people. Whereas the GOP has consistently been waterboys for the wealthy. This thesis is evidence by NJ, Wis and OH where GOP governers are pushing an agenda to undo collective bargaining. Let's face facts and admit that "merit pay" is code for underpay, no benefits, and destruction of the middle class.

The attempt to repeal collective bargaining is a straight up attack on that organized, influental group. If the issue is really about solving state economic woes then let's address those issues. Yes, state workers should pay more for their health care. However, the wealthy should pay their far share of taxes. AND yes, corporations should pay their share as well. The fact is that they are not. They care not for the public good; instead, only care about their own buldging bank accounts.

Personally, I take affront with you calling union work a "gravy train" and characterizing it as "marking time." I work hard everyday and decided to work for the government, because I have a committment to public service. I could have taken my skills to the private sector, but I felt I wanted to contribute to improving society.

One last thing (the Columbo moment), I think you have a union contract, pal? Kevin, I am asking you - man to man - to step in the ring. We can do boxing, MMA, Taekwondo. Let's sell tickets and we can give the proceeds to charity.

How many CMSD student receive free lunches and are wearing $100 tennis shoes? What kind of vehicles are the parents driving? The bottom line is that if you can't feed them, don't breed them. Don't pass the buck to the larger community, because of financial irresponsibility.

Doors will open. Boosters, fanfare and ribbon cutting. Young, urban thugs - of legal gambling age - will show up. Problems will follow. Racism will be alleged. Local news will exaggerate. Interest will wane. Doors will close.